Club America's rise to the top of the Liga MX table hit a bump in the road from a most unexpected place. The less celebrated team from Guadalajara, Leones Negros, defeated the Aguilas by scoring the lone goal of the match in a 1-0 final at Azteca Stadium.

It was a surprising defeat, but perhaps not a shocking one, given how Club America also struggled against Puebla earlier in the season. It's a fatal flaw to underestimate an opponent. Unfortunately for America, it seems to be a habit of late...

Osvaldo Martinez and Club America are one step closer to their sixth CONCACAF championship following Wednesday's 3-0 win at Saprissa.

The first legs of the CONCACAF Champions League are in the books with two teams -- Club America and Alajuelense -- all but booked for the semifinals, while the other two series are still very much up for grabs. Here are five takeaways from the week that was in the CCL.

1. Club America ruthlessly punish Saprissa

For a good stretch Saprissa were the dominant of the two sides in their Wednesday encounter with America. Playing in front of a frenzied crowd, the Costa Ricans swarmed the Mexican champions...

Club America's Osvaldo Martinez, left, and Deyver Vega of Deportivo Saprissa compete for the ball during their quarterfinal game of the Concacaf Champions League

A CONCACAF Champions League mid-week match against Saprissa in Costa Rica gave Club America's regular bench players some good practice, but also allowed the team's stars to shine in the 3-0 victory.

It's never easy to play against a Costa Rican squad on native soil, and indeed, for large parts of the match, Saprissa had a lot of the ball and created a number of chances. That the Central American club wasn't able to convert was due less to poor finishing, though, than to the stellar performance...

After winning a CONCACAF championship in 1998 as a DC United player, Ben Olsen is looking to pull off the same feat as the club's coach.

For the first time since the 2010-11 edition, the CONCACAF Champions League will begin its quarterfinal round in the month of February, much to the dismay of Major League Soccer sides Montreal Impact and DC United. While their quarterfinal counterparts from Costa Rica, Mexico and Honduras are well into their respective campaigns, the MLS pair will play their first official matches of 2015 this week, making their first-leg contests away from home that much more challenging. Here's a look inside...

The success of Dario Benedetto and Oribe Perlata up top has made it difficult for Club America to find a place for Darwin Quintero.

It wasn't the domination of a week ago against Chiapas, but Club America managed to start off their rivalry season well, defeating Pumas 1-0. The Clasico victory was all the sweeter for the Aguilas because it came in triumph at Estadio Olimpico Universitario. Here are three quick points to take from Sunday's match:

1. Image is everything

If his flamboyant sideline attire was anything to go by, America manager Gustavo Matosas has reached a new level of confidence with his club that may have helped...